Bobby Darin sings "Once Upon a Time"

In honor of the recent re-issue of the Shadow of Your Smile/In a Broadway Bag 2-on-1 CD, here is a video clip of Bobby Darin singing one of my favorite numbers from the In a Broadway Bag LP... the tender and beautiful "Once Upon a Time."

Bobby Darin: Alabamy Bound (The Hit Single That Could Have Been)

Many of Bobby Darin's early hit singles had essentially the same set of traits that rocketed them up the charts. The formula for a Darin hit seemed to be one part finger-snappin' rhythm, one part sly or humorous lyrics, and a heaping splash of Darin's undeniably thrilling vocal style. "Splish Splash," "Mack the Knife," "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby," and "Things," all released between 1958 and 1962, showed time and again that this recipe was a virtual guarantee of a place in Billboard's Top Ten. But somehow, this trend was overlooked when Darin recorded the Buddy DeSylva/Bud Green/Ray Henderson chestnut "Alabamy Bound" with arranger/conductor Jimmie Haskell in September of 1962. Instead of being released as a single, or even as an album track, the recording languished on a shelf, until it finally appeared in 1995 as part of Capitol's "Spotlight on Bobby Darin" CD.

The choice not to release "Alabamy Bound" back then seems even stranger when you consider the fact that the tune's arranger, Jimmie Haskell, was at the helm for several of Darin's hit singles, including the abovementioned "Beautiful Baby" and "Things." The latter had reached #3 on the charts only months before "Alabamy Bound" was recorded.

One listen to the tune (check it out at the DarinLand Myspace) confirms it has the same Darin magic that made "Mack," "Beautiful Baby" and "Things" so irresistible. Haskell's arrangement for "Alabamy Bound" is simply brilliant. This man knows what to do with a train song. Haskell's train is not chugging lazily along, but roaring down the track, with horns and drums kicking out with an infectious intensity. Darin sings the song with a perpetual smile in his voice, loving every line. When he talks about puttin' his "eight-and-a-halfs in an upper berth" you know he's getting a charge out of the entire experience. And when Bobby Darin is charged up, he tends to pass that spark right over to the listener. This, my friends, is how hits are born.

While it is unfortunate this tune never had the chance for the chart-topping success it so richly deserved, we can at least be glad we have it to enjoy now, along with all the other amazing Darin performances available on CD and DVD.

Bobby Darin sings "When the Saints Go Marching In"

Holey moley, what a performance! Young Bobby Darin drives the crowd into a frenzy with a medley that begins with "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and builds to an incredible rave-up version of "When the Saints Go Marching In." Just watch those hands and those snappin' fingers as they guide the audience and drive the melody home. By the time he's done, he's got the whole room whoopin' and hollerin' like they're at an old-time revival meeting. Do it, Bobby!

Bobby Darin lost albums: "It's You or No One"

When talking about the great Bobby Darin LPs, critics tend to cite titles such as "That's All" and "Love Swings." But there are so many Darin records that were somehow lost in the shuffle, records like his 1963 Atco release "It's You Or No One." It's not just a shame, but a downright tragedy that more fans don't know how amazing an album this is.

Like "Love Swings," "It's You or No One" is a concept piece, with bright, warm arrangements by Torrie Zito on Side One, exploring the "It's You" part of the title, and darker, melancholy arrangements by Bobby Scott on Side Two, falling gently into the "No One" part of the title.

The last song on Side One, "All or Nothing at All" (Johnny Mercer/Victor Schertzinger), does a magnificent job of setting up the lost love theme of Side Two. Darin's vocal sizzles with passion as he declares "Half a love just never appealed to me. If your heart never could yield to me, then I'd rather have nothin' at all." Coming on the heels of the joyous "I've Never Been in Love Before" (Frank Loesser), "All or Nothing At All" reveals what could be a hint of desperation, as Darin reaches out for the love he thought was there, and finds the commitment is only half-hearted.

When Side Two commences with "One Little Item" (Libby Holden), we find Darin "in a crowd, so noisy and loud" when his former love walks in. The strings here are astounding, trembling with the flutter in Darin's chest as he describes his reaction: "When she nears me, how she cheers me, her eyes so warm, so gay. But what can all this matter to me? Those eyes aren't looking my way." As the tune comes to a close, Darin lays his pain out for all to see: "She's everything I told you. I swear by stars above. There's only one little item... I'm not the guy she loves." Again, the use of strings is dramatic, magnificent and perfect. The woodwinds are also used to powerful effect.

Recorded in January of 1960, less than a week before Darin would work with Bobby Scott on the "Winners" LP, and a little over a year before he would work with Torrie Zito on "Love Swings," "It's You Or No One" was, in some ways, a warm-up for both of those collaborations. Both arrangers had the opportunity to take a set of songs, match them to a mood, and get a feel for the deeply personal way Darin approached a ballad.

Of course, to call this album simply a "warm-up" would be to deny the fact that it stands on its own, as one of the most evocative, emotionally honest, and utterly effective artistic statements on love and loss ever recorded. Darin's vocal is powerful beyond words, and his ability to draw the listener into the very heart of his story is brilliantly represented.

So, why was such a fantastic piece overlooked? Possibly it was because of Atlantic's odd releasing strategy. Like several other Darin records, this album was recorded and then left on the shelf until years later. As stated above, it came out in 1963, after "Love Swings," and after Darin had left Atlantic for Capitol. It seemed at the time that Atlantic was just clearing out the vaults and releasing whatever Darin material they still had lying around. This perception by the public and the press could have stamped "It's You" as a leftover, not worth checking out.

Again, this is a true tragedy, because "It's You or No One" is one of Bobby Darin's finest and most honest artistic and personal expressions. Any Bobby Darin fan that does not have this record is missing out on something astounding.

--Michael M

Bobby Darin and Jimmy Durante on What's My Line in 1965

Bobby Darin and Jimmy Durante were good friends by the time this aired, and you can see that in the way Bobby reacts when Jimmy is revealed to be the "What's My Line" mystery guest. It's also interesting to note that Bobby is the last one on the panel to take his seat during the ovation they give Jimmy toward the end. His respect for the great Jimmy Durante was absolute, and he was clearly so thrilled just to be in his presence.

Bobby Darin: The Singing Actor

I've been vibing on the "Seeing is Believing" DVD a lot lately, mainly because it is a prime example of what I have always said about Bobby Darin: He is not just a singer, he is not just an interpreter, he is a singing actor. And even more than that, he is also a storyteller. And even more than that, he is a truth teller.

Actually, I think all these things rolled together (great voice, brilliant acting, fabulous storyteller, truthful storyteller) are what make Mr. Darin one of the greatest lyrical interpreters of our time. He gives his all, everything he's got, to make a song come alive. The video clip of "Come Rain or Come Shine" from "Seeing is Believing" I posted elsewhere on this blog shows all of these elements working in tandem. There he is, opening up and letting it all out, displaying a deep understanding of the lyricist's intent, while also allowing his own experiences to color the delivery, and spinning a yarn for us that will knock us off our feet.

Not many can do that. Not many even try.

There's nothing left to say except: HA CHA!

--Michael

Bobby Darin sings Come Rain or Come Shine from the video Seeing is Believing

In honor of the all the rain-and-sunshine mixed days we've been getting here in the Philadelphia area lately: Bobby Darin croons an absolutely devastating rendition of "Come Rain or Come Shine." Listen to that band swing! And listen to Bobby swing right along with them, with an easy style and an emotional intensity that'll give you goosebumps. Once again, Mr. Darin does more than sing a song... he tells the truth. Reaching down inside, he draws on his own experiences of love and loss, and opens a window to his soul. Nobody, I mean nobody, has ever given so much to an audience.